Kelli Hughett is a homeschool mom-turned-suspense author. Her latest romantic suspense title, Red Zone, can be found on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/odfkc85 To catch up with Kelli, read more devotionals and random thoughts, or to book a speaking engagement visit her website at http://www.kellihughett.com

A NEW HANDBAGBY KELLI HUGHETT

There’s nothing in the world like a new handbag! It’s a new beginning. I don’t know if you’re anything like me, but my old purse gets bogged down with gum wrappers, receipts, bank envelopes (they’re empty of course), and loose change. Getting a new one is my chance to start fresh. I trash all the wrappers and papers I don’t need, toss the coins in our meager vacation fund and move all the important items to the new handbag. It’s so nice to be able to find what I want again! I had neck surgery in 2013 and afterward my therapist recommended I carry a smaller, lighter purse. For almost a year, I ignored the advice while dealing with chronic discomfort, even though the problem had been fixed by the surgery. I wasn’t ready to give up my larger handbag for a small one. I mean, can you carry two shades of lipstick, a mascara, a hand lotion, nail kit, travel Bible, 12 Band-Aids, and an oversized wallet in a teensy-tiny little purse? No, ma’am you cannot! When my neck ached, I applied heat and ice. I stretched and had chiropractic treatments. When it was really uncomfortable, I’d take Advil or Tylenol. Nothing really helped long term, but it was manageable—most of the time. Finally, I decided to try the “small purse” advice. The therapist even recommended I never carry a shoulder bag. Ouch. That really limits the cuteness options! But I was willing to try anything to get back to a place of no discomfort and pain. Guess what? It worked! As soon as I started carrying a small, hand-held style handbag, my neck discomfort disappeared! I’ll never carry a shoulder bag again! Do you ever feel discomfort from the sin you’re carrying? Lots of us are lugging around a load of guilt and consequences like a woman with purse fetish. Take my therapist’s advice: Ditch it for good. When your sins are feeling heavy remember this verse: Isaiah 44:22: I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloudand your sins like mist;return to me, for I have redeemed you. Return to your redeemer: Don’t carry your guilt and sins around in a shoulder bag. God wipes them away like a mist! No sins = no discomfort!